Madison Mathews

Science Hill High School will host a dedication ceremony Friday morning for the Science Hill Veterans Memorial. Project organizers and Science Hill alumni Theresa Billings and Jenny Brock and Principal Melanie Riden-Bacon stand in front of the memorial. (

Hilltoppers who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored Friday as Science Hill High School alumni, city officials and members of the community gather to dedicate the Science Hill Veterans Memorial.

The ceremony is the culmination of more than two years of work bringing the project together.

It’s honoring them being a Science Hill Hilltopper and then going off to war and giving their lives for their country. It’s just a place that we hope will be a peaceful place,” said project organizer and Science Hill alumna Theresa Billings.

The dedication ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the courtyard now known as Alumni Memorial Circle between the school’s old office and auditorium.

Thirty-eight names will be etched in panels attached to brick walls that will surround the flagpole, which will fly an alumni flag and an American flag.

City Commissioner and SHHS Alumni Association President Jenny Brock said she hopes the memorial will become a source of pride for both Science Hill students and members of the community.

“We expect a big turnout from the community here. We know a lot of people that will be coming. I think there is just a great deal of pride that’s being shown within the community for this kind of project,” she said.

The project was funded through donations from the community. Some of the companies that provided materials and labor include Mitch Cox Companies, General Shale, Tennessee Flag Co., Snyder Signs and the city of Johnson City.

“There was no dollars alloted to this project. I’m proud to say because of the generous commitment by companies in Johnson City that there were no dollars at all raised for this project,” Billings said.

SHHS Principal Melanie Riden-Bacon said the memorial will add a strong sense of unity to the Hilltopper campus and kick off a tradition for future alumni.

“The students at Science Hill feel like family and I just think it unites us with the community as a bigger family. It teaches our young people to have respect and pride in the school even after they leave as alumni and give back to what we gave them while they were here,” she said.